TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The world is perpetually knocked by adamant economic concerns, and the expense of these most expensive foods continue to soar even higher. While some households flounder to navigate through mounting grocery prices, other families splurge their wealth to satiate their hunger with obscure ingredients.
List of Most Expensive Foods in the World
As of 2025, Almas caviar remains the most expensive food in the world, according to Cozymeal, USA Today, and Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Let’s take a glimpse of other costly delicacies below.
1. Almas Caviar
Sourced exclusively from the Iranian Beluga sturgeon that is over 100 years old, Almas caviar officially becomes the most expensive food worldwide due to its rarity.
Touching the base of around $40,000 USD and more per kilogram, this luxury food is harvested from a certain region in the South Caspian Sea. Thanks to their naturally clean habitat, Almas caviar has a captivating clear skin, which gives a distinct creamy and nutty taste.
2. White Alba Truffle
Primarily found in Italy’s Piedmont region and select areas of Croatia, White Alba Truffles are among the rarest and most sought-after culinary treasures, fetching prices that soar beyond $300 per ounce. These elusive fungi form a delicate symbiosis with tree roots, making their cultivation nearly impossible and their harvest incredibly selective.
Despite their sky-high cost, affluent food lovers are more than willing to indulge in gourmet dishes like truffle-infused risotto and pasta, savoring the earthy aroma and rich flavor that only White Alba Truffles can deliver.
3. Kobe Beef
As one of the most expensive foods in the culinary world at large, Kobe beef is exceptionally delightful. Authentic Kobe beef hails exclusively from cattle born and raised in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, nestled in the country's western region.
These prized cows are pampered with a carefully controlled diet of grasses and grains, resulting in exquisitely marbled meat with a remarkable high fat content that melts in your mouth. Unsurprisingly, this luxurious flavor experience comes at a cost, which often starts at $35 per ounce.
4. Saffron
A premium spice harvested in Iran, Saffron, is widely used in various fancy meals within the bounds of fine dining. While its hand-picking technique adds to their premium quality, it’s their rugged production process that makes Saffron expensive. Much like common spice ingredients, Saffron comes in grades, typically standing between $10 and $20 per gram.
5. Edible Gold
In the world of luxurious pastries, edible gold has long held its place as the ultimate symbol of opulence. Often delicately layered into desserts, only the finest—ranging from 22 to 24 karats, is used to elevate visual appeal and create a lavish and high-end aesthetic.
As its sparkle isn’t reserved just for sweets, edible gold adds a touch of glamour to any dish. This shimmering ingredient can cost around $70 for only a few grams.
6. Matsutake Mushrooms
Another excellency comes from Japan is the impeccable Matsutake mushroom or a wild-foraged delicacy typically harvested only between September and November.
For those with deep pockets, the meaty texture and signature earthy aroma of Matsutake mushrooms now come with a jaw-dropping price tag of up to $2,000 per kilogram.
Its rarity has only intensified in recent years, as infestations by worms have made it even harder to find. This scarcity has driven its already premium price to new heights.
7. Kopi Luwak Coffee
Among the most expensive coffees in the world, Luwak Coffee owes its soaring price to a unique and natural process involving the digestive journey of an animal. Named after the civet, or luwak, this luxurious brew begins with the creature’s keen ability to select only the ripest and highest-quality coffee cherries.
After passing through its digestive system, the beans are collected, cleaned, and roasted. As a result, a cup of coffee is born with its smooth, refined flavor and layered aroma.
8. Ruby Roman Grape
Hailed to be one of the most expensive fruits in the world, Ruby Roman Grape is a native delicacy from Japan. With just 24,000 bunches produced annually, this prized crop commands a staggering price tag ranging from $100 to $1000 apiece. Its exceptional cost stems from both its extreme rarity and the meticulous cultivation standards required to grow it.
8. Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin tuna is a staple of sushi and sashimi that has a top-rated reputation among the most expensive foods, thanks to its tender and buttery texture. Its elite status was spectacularly reinforced in 2023, when a colossal 212-kilogram Bluefin tuna fetched a jaw-dropping $273,000 at a prestigious auction in Japan.
9. Iberico Ham
A cured ham known as Jamón Ibérico is predominantly produced in Spain and Portugal from native pigs that are allowed to freely roam. This certain husbandry atop of their acorn-heavy diet affects the quality of Iberico ham. With hints of herbs, spices, and nutty flavor, the slices can shine for a quite hefty price, starting at $500 to $6,500.
The world’s most expensive foods are often more than just meals as they are symbols of culture, craftsmanship, and extravagance. While these delicacies remain out of reach for most, they continue to fascinate with their rarity, meticulous production, and unmatched flavor profiles.
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